Map can help residents during floods

6:47 PM,
Dec. 7, 2012

Forrest County Emergency Management Director Terry Steed speaks about the new flood-inundation map project during a press conference at Chain Park. A flag pole commemorating the 1974 record flood event is now visible at the park.

Written by

David Breland
American Staff Writer

Next time severe weather hits the Pine Belt, Hattiesburg residents will have a way to find out if their home is in danger of flooding.

Officials with the City of Hattiesburg, Forrest County, the National Weather Service and the United States Geological Survey were on hand Friday to unveil a new flood-inundation map for the area surrounding the confluence of the Bouie and Leaf rivers.

The interactive map, available at http://wim.usgs.gov/FIMI/, allows users to see predicted areas of flooding at various levels of flood stage. ...